No. 5 Men and No. 6 Women Set to Take on Wheaton in the Pool

Jan 07, 2010

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - In 1914, the
beaver was selected as the mascot of the MIT Engineers because of
its mechanical skills and habits of industry. Had the selection
committee seen the institute's current swimming and diving program,
it would likely have cited an additional similarity: expertise in
the water.

In the latest poll conducted by the College Swimming Coaches
Association of America (CSCAA) and CollegeSwimming.com, both MIT
swimming and diving teams shot up in the Division-III national
rankings as the men's team landed at No. 5 and the women
settled at No. 6.

With Dawn Dill leading MIT and Kathy Milliken at the helm of No.
2 Kalamazoo College, the poll created history as it marks the first
time two men's teams, coached by women, have been ranked in the top
five of the same poll in any NCAA sport.

On Friday, January 8, the men and women will square off in New
England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) competition
against the Lyons of Wheaton College in the Zesiger Center pool.

Entering this week, MIT's men hold the best times in the NEWMAC
in 17 of 18 swimming events. Nationally, nine Engineers hold
individual top-20 times in D-III, including senior Rastislav Racz,
who ranks third in the 100 Breast (56.46). MIT also ranks top-5 in
four relays, including the division-second-best time in the 200
Free Relay (1:22.26). Wheaton diver Jonathan Gold will have the
opportunity to pick up points for the Lyons, as the diving
well has been difficult for the Engineers to
master this season.

On the women's side, freshman Anna Kokensparger has dominated
the pool with conference-leading and national-top-20 times in six
events. In the relays, MIT is one of only four D-III teams to rank
top-10 nationally in all five races. Wheaton's Dania Piscetta will
be the Engineers' biggest challenge, as the junior has the top
NEWMAC time in the 200 Free and runner-up times in three other
events.

For the first time, fans will be able to catch MIT swimming and
diving action online, as the meet will be webcast through MIT's
partnership with B2 Networks. The cost to view the event is $7.
Action kicks off at 5 p.m.